Pak Punjab Govt. living in denial over ever increasing terror threat in province

Lahore, Jun.2 (ANI): Despite there being an uninhibited rise in terror activities and plenty of evidence to prove that the province is fast becoming a breeding ground for terror organisations, the Punjab government appears to be reluctant to take on the militants, as it has ruled out any action against them.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is strengthening its position in Punjab continuously and has joined hands with local ‘jihadi’ groups, but strangely enough the provincial government is living in denial.

While Interior Minister Rehman Malik clearly pointed out that Punjab based terror organisations pose a great risk and that they are planning some major attacks across the country, provincial leaders believe that the situation is under control.

“Army operations are required only where there are no-go areas and there is no such situation in any part of Punjab,” said Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Law Minister and a trusted aide of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sanaullah had attracted wide criticism after he was seen hobnobbing with leaders of banned terror outfit Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) during a local election in Jhang a few days ago.

“Most analyses have acknowledged the presence of strong sympathies for Jihadi and sectarian elements in south Punjab,” a Islamabad-based security analyst, who refused to be named, said.

A recent secret report of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) titled ‘Talibanisation in Southern Punjab acknowledges that “the terrorist activities that have taken place in Punjab in the past couple of years invariably prove direct, indirect links with activists’ ex-proscribed organisations.

Even though the report said that the recent terror incidents does not qualify as “spread of Talibanisation in society”, the fact that such acts are on the rise shows that the provincial government is living in complete denial.

“The Punjab government is living in a state of denial. It should first admit that the groups carrying out terrorist activities (in the province) are there and operating out of south Punjab before it can take action against them and protect people from them,” The Dawn quoted noted defence and political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi , as saying.

Rizvi noted that the Shahbaz Sharif government was pursuing a policy of ‘reaction’ rather than ‘action’ against terrorists, who have wreaked havoc in Punjab killing numerous innocent people. (ANI)